Range
Rover Sentinel
Jaguar
Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division does not only build
high-performance or one-off models. Its latest creation, the Range Rover
Sentinel, is the first armored Land Rover to be fully engineered by SVO.
Based
on the standard wheelbase Range Rover Autobiography, the Sentinel version has
VR8 level certification, confirming “impressive ballistic and blast
resistance.” Debuting at Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI)
Show on September 15-18 in London, the Range Rover Sentinel is aimed primarily
at export markets and built to special order with prices starting from € 400,000
(US$ 445,380) - excluding taxes.
Hand
build by SVO at its Oxford Road facility, the Sentinel is designed to withstand
penetration by 7.62 mm high velocity, armor piercing incendiary bullets. It
delivers lateral protection against up to 15 kg Trinitrotoluene (TNT) blasts and
defence against DM51 grenade explosions from both beneath the floor and above
the roof.
That’s
because the Range Rover Sentinel has a specially-developed six-piece armored
passenger cell at its core, made of super-high-strength steel. The standard
glass has been replaced by multi-laminated armor privacy glass of optical
quality. Other special features include anti-tamper exhaust, a self-sealing
fuel tank, auxiliary back-up battery, a split charging system and run flat
inserts in the tyres which allow the vehicle to be driven even if the tyres are
deflated.
There’s
also a 100 mm opening in the driver’s window for document delivery.
Optional protection features include under floor and under bonnet fire
suppression systems, a customer configurable siren system, emergency service
lights and an external speaker system to address people outside the vehicle.
To
cope with the added weight, the Sentinel has an uprated suspension, with Land
Rover saying it delivers the same ride comfort, handling and off-road
capability as non-armored Range Rovers. The brakes are also upgraded to 380 mm
front and 365 mm rear ventilated discs with high-density pads.
The
Range Rover Sentinel is powered by the 335 hp 3.0-liter V6 supercharged
petrol engine mated to a specially-calibrated ZF 8-speed automatic transmission
and looks almost identical to regular Range Rover Autobiography models.
The
Sentinel will be available to order in the UK, Europe, South America, Africa
and the Middle East from the beginning of September 2015.
